UPDATED 1:22 p.m.: Virginia State Police mourn the loss of Special Agent Michael T. Walter who died in the line duty following a shooting Friday evening. Walter, 45, succumbed to his injuries early Saturday, according to a state police spokeswoman. A resident of Powhatan County, Walter was a Philadelphia, Penn. native and joined the VSP in 1998. Walter was a decorated U.S. Marine Corp veteran, serving from 1989 to 1994. He is survived by his wife Jaime and three children.
Authorities have also released the photo of Travis A. Bell, whom state police have charged with shooting Special Agent Walter.
UPDATE 8:40 a.m.: The State Police and U.S. Marshals apprehended Travis A. Ball, 27, of Richmond, Va., at a residence in Northumberland County shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday, according to a state police spokeswoman. He was taken into custody without further incident.
Ball is being held without bond on arrest warrants obtained Friday for one count of malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Additional charges are pending.
State police said Ball is charged with shooting Virginia State Police Special Agent Michael T. Walter. Special Agent Walter died from his injuries shortly after 5 a.m. Saturday at VCU Medical Center in Richmond, according to the press release.
ORIGINAL: Virginia State Police and Richmond Police are actively searching for a man who shot a Virginia State Police Special Agent Friday evening in Richmond.
Special Agent Mark Walter, identified late Friday by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, was taken to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. He is being treated for life-threatening injuries, according to a press release from VSP spokeswoman Corinne N. Geller.
Authorities believe the man who shot the special agent is medium build and approximately 5-feet 8-inches to 5-feet 10 inches.
The man is believed to have close-cropped hair and wearing a red, possibly plaid, button-up shirt with ¾-inch sleeves and khaki cargo shorts or pants.
According to Geller’s release, at 7:25 p.m. Friday, a Richmond police officer and the Special Agent observed a car pull up to the curb and park the wrong way in the 1900 block of Redd Street.
The Richmond officer was in uniform and driving a marked Richmond Police SUV. The Richmond officer and Special Agent walked up to the car and struck up a conversation with the driver as part of a consensual encounter, according to the release.
During the course of the encounter, authorities believe the Special Agent was shot by the passenger in the car, who fled on foot.
The driver of the car remained at the scene and was detained by Richmond Police.
Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Virginia State Police at (804) 553-3445 or #77 on a cell phone or by email at [email protected].
Tips may also be called in to the Richmond Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000 or to Richmond Police by calling 911.
Assisting the Virginia State Police and Richmond Police with the ongoing search are the Henrico County Police, Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The incident remains under investigation at this time.
